In 2003, Akron writer David Giffels and Florida-based Jade Dellinger co-wrote an in-depth history of Akron’s legendary band Devo called Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!, exploring their roots in the Kent and Akron music scene and their rise to international fame.
Now they’ve followed it up with yet another tome on the band called The Beginning Was the End, published by the University of Akron press. They’re calling it “the definitive account of Devo’s vibrant early history, from the authors of the first-ever book about the band.” It greatly expands on the earlier books including more than 80 never-seen-before images of the band from their earliest days.
Dellinger is director of the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida Southwestern State College which is currently hosting an exhibit called DEVO 5-0: The Beginning was the End: A Fiftieth Anniversary Tribute to The De-Evolution Band. It features costumes, props, instruments, handwritten lyrics, concert flyers and posters and more. It runs through December 9 for those of you not averse to setting foot in Ron DeSantis’ state. Learn more about the show here.
The authors will be appearing at book talks/signings in Kent and Akron in late October. We’ll have the details then! Get more information about the book here.